45 Egl. I will not fail your ladyship. Good morrow, gentle lady.
Sil. Good morrow, kind Sir Eglamour.
Exeunt severally.
[ IV. 4 Scene IV. The same].
Enter Launce, with his Dog.
Launce. When a man’s servant shall play the cur with him, look you, it goes hard: one that I brought up of a puppy; one that I saved from drowning, when three or four of his blind brothers and sisters went to it! I have 5 taught him, even as one would say precisely, ‘thus I would teach a dog.’ [I was sent] to deliver him as a present to Mistress Silvia from my master; and I came no sooner into the dining-chamber, but he steps me to her trencher, and steals her capon’s leg: O, ’tis a foul thing when a cur 10 cannot keep himself in all companies! I would have, as one should say, one that takes upon him [to be a dog indeed], to be, as it were, a dog at all things. If I had not had more wit than he, to take a fault upon me that he did, I think verily he had been hanged for’t: sure as I 15 live, he had suffered for’t: you shall judge. He thrusts me himself into the company of three or four gentleman-like dogs, under the duke’s table: he had not been there—bless the mark!—a pissing while, but all the chamber smelt him. ‘Out with the dog!’ says one: ‘What cur is 20 that?’ says another: ‘Whip him out,’ says [the third]: ‘Hang him up,’ says the duke. I, having been acquainted with the smell before, knew it was Crab, and goes me to the fellow that whips the dogs: ‘Friend,’ quoth I, ‘[you mean] to whip the dog?’ ‘Ay, marry, do I,’ quoth he. ‘You IV. 4.
25 do him the more wrong,’ quoth I; ‘’twas I did the thing you wot of.’ He [makes me no more] ado, but whips me out of the chamber. How many masters would do this for [his servant]? Nay, I’ll be sworn, I have sat in the stocks for puddings he hath stolen, otherwise he had been executed; 30 I have stood on the pillory for geese he hath killed, otherwise he had suffered for’t. Thou thinkest not of this now. Nay, I remember the trick you served me when I took my leave of Madam [Silvia]: did not I bid thee still mark me, and do as I do? when didst thou see me heave 35 up my leg, and make water against a gentlewoman’s farthingale? didst thou ever see me do such a trick?
Enter Proteus and Julia.
Pro. Sebastian is thy name? I like thee well,
And will employ thee in some service presently.
Jul. In what you please: [I’ll do] what I can.